Sagebrush Bride (37 page)

An
involuntary shudder coursed through Cutter at the declaration, and his gaze was
drawn at once to the house.

What
he wouldn’t give...

“And
we haven’t even played yet!” Katie exclaimed.

Cutter
shook free of his carnal thoughts, and despite himself, he chuckled at Katie’s
disgruntled expression. He stooped to her eye level and ruffled her hair. Still
chuckling, he asked, “Whattaya say, partner? Think we oughta go find ourselves
a hidey-hole before Miss Mimi comes out scrubbing for us, too?”

Katie
giggled and nodded vigorously.

The
bath Miss Mimi had promised was wonderfully soothing, and for the first time in
over a week, Elizabeth felt refreshed. In spite of the fact that the house
boasted more luxuries than Elizabeth had ever known could exist under one roof,
the ritual of bathing was carried on little differently than it was in her own
small three-room home—in the kitchen, with water heated from the stove.
Only, if the truth be known, her own tub was much nicer, and much more
comfortable.

The
tub she found herself scrunched into just now was little bigger than the small
basin she used to launder her clothing at home. Still, it was a bath, with
clean, warm water, and Elizabeth would never think to complain. It was amazing
how quickly one became immune to the aches and pains of the trail—as a
matter of necessity—and how quickly they returned at the end of the
journey. Truthfully, she was afraid to look, but she could swear that her
bottom was bruised until it was blue. And the back of her thighs? She grimaced
inwardly. If they weren’t, as well, then it would be a miracle.

Miss
Mimi, bless her soul, remained to wash her hair, knowing that it would be an
impossible task to do herself in the body-squashing bowl she was sitting in.

“I
just can’t get over how much you resemble Katherine!” Miss Mimi swore as she
scrubbed.

Elizabeth
winced as Miss Mimi’s nails raked over her scalp so vigorously. “It’s strange
to hear you say so,” she admitted, grimacing. “Because I’ve never thought so.
Katherine was always so beautiful.”

“Yes,
she was,” Miss Mimi agreed soberly. “But have you ever looked in a mirror,
Elizabeth? You’re certainly nothing to scoff at yourself! Why, I bet every man
in Sioux Falls cried the day you were wed!”

Elizabeth
smiled at the ridiculous statement, overlooking the reminder of her lie. “I’m
afraid not,” she admitted, hating to disappoint Miss Mimi. “But then, I never
felt too badly over it,” she rationalized, “because I never really knew many
men who weren’t already married. Sioux Falls isn’t exactly swarming with people
these days.”

“What
a shame,” Miss Mimi said lamentably. “But it turned out all right for you,
didn’t it, dear?” Finished with the scrubbing of Elizabeth’s scalp, she dipped
a ewer into the tub. “Close your eyes,” she demanded, and Elizabeth immediately
complied, bracing herself for the downpour. “That man of yours is really
something to look at,” Miss Mimi remarked casually, dipping the ewer once more.
“I can certainly see why you settled on him. Why,” she declared, with a girlish
giggle, “if I weren’t already—” She blinked, and continued in another
vein, a little more soberly. “Well, if I weren’t so darned old, and he weren’t
already your husband...”

Elizabeth
stiffened guiltily as Miss Mimi poured water over her head—this time
without warning Elizabeth to close her eyes... and her mouth, which was hanging
agape.

Elizabeth
sputtered, spewing water.

With
a last strangled cough, she composed herself. Certainly she couldn’t continue
to feel so ill at ease every time Cutter was mentioned... or the word husband.
There wasn’t a more certain way to lose Katie.

Still,
she had to admit that Miss Mimi was right. Cutter was as handsome a devil as
they came. He was certainly the most fascinating man she had ever met.

Recalling
the way that he’d spoken to her only hours before, she couldn’t contain the
breathy sigh that rushed past her lips. What was he doing just now? she
wondered. And then she recalled the irate look he’d given her before leaving
their room, and her brow furrowed. How long did he intend to stay angry with
her this time?

“...
Anyhow, I do hope you don’t make that same mistake in your marriage,” Miss Mimi
was saying.

Realizing
that her thoughts had drifted while Miss Mimi had chattered on, and that she’d
missed the last of what had been said, Elizabeth nodded absently, trying to
ascertain what it was that they were speaking of.

“No!
Tell me you don’t!” Miss Mimi rebuked, seeing her nod. “Oh, Elizabeth! Forgive
me for speaking so plainly, but it pains me to see such a lovely couple lose so
much in their relationship for the sake of modesty!” She sighed portentously.
“But... as I said, Katherine was that way, too.” Frowning, she came around the
front of the tub, dragging a stool. She settled it before the tub. “You, at
least, have an excuse—though not after today, you won’t!”

Her
expression grave, Miss Mimi sat facing Elizabeth. “Now,” she began. “I realize
that your father would never have said such things to you, but I do not have
such a disinclination. Frank speech bothers me not at all.”

Elizabeth
nodded dumbly, having absolutely no idea whatsoever what it was that had gotten
Miss Mimi so riled. She stared blankly, trying not to look as confused as she
felt.

“That
poor sister of yours had the mistaken impression—and I won’t say who it
was that gave it, though I’m certain you know... Anyway, it’s just not true
that you should just lie back and simply do your duty.”

Elizabeth
was more confused than ever; her brow furrowed more deeply, and then suddenly
her eyes widened and she sank into the tub in humiliation. To her dismay, she
was beginning to grasp the topic finally. Appalled, she averted her eyes.

Apparently
seeing her guilty reaction, Miss Mimi sounded all the more riled. “Where such a
ridiculous notion began, I’ll never know! But that, my dear—and you know
what I mean by that, I’m certain—is just as special to a woman as it is
to a man. And that’s God’s truth—I do swear!”

Too
disconcerted to respond, Elizabeth simply stared at the dispersing soap
bubbles, watching them burst, one by one, wishing she were anywhere at all but
in this tub, in this kitchen—listening to Miss Mimi. Never had anyone
spoken to her of such things, and she wasn’t certain how to respond. Obviously
she’d mistaken Miss Mimi’s look of shock earlier. Nothing could shock the
woman! Elizabeth was certain.

“Now
take Miss Katherine,” Miss Mimi continued somberly, “I know she loved her John
very much, but that poor child believed everything your mother told
her—every last little bit of drivel! And I’ll tell you now precisely what
I told her then. There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving your man. It’s
the most natural thing in the world to want him back—and don’t think that
carrying a baby changes any of that either. Don’t you dare be ashamed if you
happen to want to lie with him even more during that time. That’s the way it’s
supposed to be! You’ll see,” she promised, waving a finger in reproach. “I know
what I see in that man of yours’ eyes—he’s a lusty one. Just don’t you
fight it. Promise me that much.”

Her
cheeks staining crimson, Elizabeth sank lower into the tub.

“Do
you understand what I’m telling you?”

Forcing
herself to look up into Miss Mimi’s knowing face, Elizabeth nodded quickly, her
face flaming.

“Oh,
for Pete’s sake, Elizabeth, you stop that blushing this minute!” Miss Mimi
rebuked. “There’s absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. We’re both grown
women, aren’t we?”

Elizabeth
nodded again, the stain on her cheek darkening considerably, and Miss Mimi
smiled down benignly at her. Then suddenly she slapped at her knees. “Well
that’s all I have to say over the matter. Honestly, I just didn’t want you to
feel guilty... and then make your man guilty over something God intended just
as surely as He made rain!” To Elizabeth’s immense relief, Miss Mimi rose,
lifting a towel from the table and handing it to her. “Now, come on out of
there,” she asserted. “Elias is sure to have put your husband to
work—he’s been so long without his son. There’s so much he can’t do on
his own anymore,” she lamented with a sigh. “It really bothers him, you know?
Anyhow, they’re sure to return famished—so out! Out!”

Throughout
dinner, Elizabeth could hold no one’s gaze for very long. If Miss Mimi smiled
at her, she’d recall their discussion of earlier in the day, and would die of
humiliation. Even now, her face warmed as she poked at her stewed carrots.

When
Cutter so much as glanced at her, she blushed all the way to her roots,
mortified to look at Miss Mimi for fear that she might be watching them watch
each other.

When
Elias Bass looked her way a moment too long, she felt guilty to her toes over
the lie. Thank goodness it appeared Cutter was right about the two of them,
because for the most part, Elias and Miss Mimi seemed too preoccupied with each
other to give her much notice.

The
only safe haven seemed to be Katie. Katie had been out with Cutter and her
grandfather during Elizabeth’s bath, watching them work, and seemed to have
really taken to Cutter. Her eyes never strayed from him long.

When
conversation shifted to talk of Petersburg, Katie suddenly scraped her chair
backward, slipping off quickly to the floor.

“Katie?”
Elias admonished.

She
froze with only one foot on the floor. “Oh!” she replied with a frown. “I
forgot. Can I may I please be ‘scused? I wanna go feed Shifless,” she
explained, her eyes cheerless.

Elias
settled his fork on the table, adjusting it as he cast a glance at Elizabeth.
“All right,” he allowed finally, his gaze reverting to Katie. He coughed
discreetly. “Go on.”

Katie
immediately snatched her plate from the table and turned to flee.

“Katie.”
She stopped abruptly, turning again to face her grandfather.

“Take
this, too.”

Katie
made her way around to where Elias sat, smiling when he placed a large pork
bone in her plate.

“Shifless’ll
like that one!” she informed everyone, her cheer returning. Her gaze was drawn
to Elizabeth as she explained. “ ‘Cause he likes the big ones.” And then she
turned abruptly and scurried from the room, clutching her plate of bones and
scraps protectively.

Elias
sighed wearily. “Doesn’t seem to like to hear about her father,” he said with
sorrow in his voice.

For
the first time since their arrival, Elizabeth met Elias’ gaze without wavering.
“Sometimes it’s too painful,” she disclosed. “When my mother left, neither my
father nor I would speak of it... not ever.” Her eyes were distant a moment,
before focusing again on Elias. She shrugged. “It just hurt much too much, I
suppose.”

Elias
gave a nod of agreement, glancing automatically at the door through which Katie
had vanished.

“Katherine
and John were good to her, you know. The best. It’s been real hard for her
without them. For a long time she wouldn’t let them go... especially her ma.”

Elizabeth
nodded, understanding perfectly. “Katherine... she died of childbed fever,
didn’t she?” Her eyes turned sad, wistful, as she wondered whether there might
not have been something she could have done to prevent it.

Miss
Mimi nodded, her eyes melancholy. “Yes, she did. I was with her, you know.
Actually, it was in those last moments that she spoke of you raising her
daughter. I think she knew—” She glanced at Elias for rescue. “Well... ”

Elias
cleared his throat. “You see... well, she knew that Miss Mimi and I... well,
we’re getting on in years... and it ain’t so easy to... well, jeez—don’t
really know how to say this...”

“Don’t
have to,” Cutter broke in. “We understand, don’t we, Elizabeth?” He peered
across the table at her.

Elizabeth
stopped chewing and nodded hastily.

Cutter’s
scrutiny shifted to Elias, his dark eyes definitive. “Liz here and I’ll take
real good care of your granddaughter, Mr. Bass. She’s a good kid.” To Cutter’s
surprise, he found that he meant every word. He glanced at Elizabeth to find
that she appeared as shocked by the intensity of his declaration as he felt.
Their gazes held, neither of them able to break away.

“I
know you will,” Elias replied after a moment of silence. “If I’d had any doubts
before... I don’t now. I can see you two love each other very much, and it
takes a helluva load off my shoulders.”